Benoit-Swan Pouffer joined Cedar Lake as Artistic Director in 2005, following an extensive career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Born and raised in Paris, his career began with study at the prestigious Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse where he performed works by such renowned French choreographers as Claude Brumachon, Daniel Larrieu and Angelin Preljocaj. In April 1993, Pouffer took first place in the Benetton European Dance Competition. Pouffer's distinguished career as a professional dancer includes a 7-year tenure with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, seasons with Philadanco and Donald Byrd/The Group as well as offering outreach programs in South Africa and master classes throughout Europe.

Pouffer is credited with an astute and discerning eye for talented dancers, a vision toward artistic excellence and the viewpoint that performers with skilled technique united in works mingling various forms of dance can breathe new life into the art form. Through an informed network of colleagues and friends in the international ballet community, Pouffer eagerly searches out innovative choreographers around the world to invite to Cedar Lake. The New York Times recently stated, "Luckily Benoit-Swan Pouffer, the French-born artistic director of Cedar Lake, seems to have taken it on himself to introduce audiences to a new generation of European choreographers." His role as curator of one of the most ambitious world-class repertoires in America today furthers Cedar Lake's mission to provide choreographers a comprehensive environment for creation and presentation.

In 2005 Pouffer introduced and choreographed the first of his series of installation performances. Critically acclaimed and representing a new, less formalized approach to dance performance, Pouffer merges the audience with the dancer to become a collaborator in the performance. His original works for Cedar Lake include "Seed," "Between Here and Now," "Hammer," "Vastav," "Glassy Essence" and "on this planet." Pouffer, with the Cedar Lake Company, recently completed filming original dance sequences for the forthcoming major motion picture release The Adjustment Bureau, including original choreography for the film's star Emily Blunt. The busy choreographer is also currently at work on the Broadway bound musical Dangerous Beauty. Mr. Pouffer is a regular visiting artist at New York University, Rutgers University and Marymount Manhattan College.